Seeds Carried from the Past to the Future
35 Participants, Seed Enthusiasts from Across Türkiye

The Seed Exchange Festival organized by Bornova Municipality attracted significant attention at the Ecological City Local Seed Center, with the participation of 35 municipalities and civil society organizations. Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that local seeds serve as a bridge between the past and the future, noting that through urban garden projects, hundreds of women have been brought together with production and that the goal is to reach thousands more. During the panel held as part of the festival, it was underlined that preserving local seeds is one of the most important legacies to be passed on to future generations.

The festival, which has become a tradition of Bornova Municipality, was held with strong participation at the Ecological City Local Seed Center located within the Bornova Central Covered Marketplace. A total of 35 participants—18 municipalities and 16 civil society organizations—took part in the event, bringing together local seed enthusiasts from all across Türkiye in Bornova.

Organized with the aim of preserving, reproducing, and transferring local seeds to future generations, the event also facilitated knowledge and experience sharing between producers and local administrations.

Symbolic Seed Exchange by Mayor Eşki

Mayor Ömer Eşki conducted a symbolic seed exchange together with Gökmen Altay. Mayor Eşki gave watermelon and Bornova okra seeds, and received zucchini and cowpea seeds in return.

Highlighting that Bornova is located on a fertile plain, Mayor Eşki referred to the expertise of Ege University, founded in 1955, particularly in the field of agriculture. “In a geography where such knowledge and accumulation exist, working on agriculture and seeds was inevitable,” he said, emphasizing that seeds represent both the past and the future.

“We all know that a single seed can grow into a forest. With the steps we take, we want to carry what we inherit from the past into the future,” he stated.

500 Women Connected with the Soil Through Urban Gardens

Mayor Eşki noted that, through the urban garden projects implemented in Bornova, 500 women have been engaged in production so far. Following the opening of Türkiye’s largest urban garden in EVKA-4, he stated that an even larger area is being prepared in Doğanlar Neighborhood, where 260 women from Doğanlar and Ümit Neighborhoods will connect with the soil.

He emphasized that the women will contribute to their household budgets by taking home the products they cultivate. Drawing attention to the importance of production amid rising living costs, Mayor Eşki stated:
“By the end of this term, thousands of people will bring the fertility of the soil into their homes through the abundance of women’s hands.”

“Local Seeds Are the Most Important Legacy We Will Leave to Our Children”

As part of the festival, a panel titled “The Heritage of Local Seeds” was organized. Moderated by Dr. Zerrin Çelik, Board Member of the Izmir Branch of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers, the panel featured academics and producers discussing the importance of preserving local seeds.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Senior Agricultural Engineer Arca Atay from Osmangazi Municipality highlighted the role of local administrations in this field:

“Local seeds are a very important legacy we will leave to our children. If we remain dependent on domestic or foreign seed companies, this effort will not succeed. We must carry out this work with dedication and a sense of ownership.”

Gökmen Altay, Mayor of Küplü, described the organization as one of the finest expressions of love for one’s homeland and thanked Bornova Municipality for hosting the event.

A Festival Crowned with Music

Grup Avaz, who performed at the event, added color to the festival with their songs. Throughout the day, seed exchanges, workshops, and conversations once again emphasized the importance of soil and production in Bornova.